Origin: United States
Origin of Name: The Australian Shepherd is believed to have developed from a variety of herding dogs imported to California with sheep import.
Size | Temperament | Shedding | Drooling | Monthly keeping cost | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Large | Zero High |
Negligible Hair Everywhere |
Zero Excess |
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The Australian Shepherd is descended from a line of Europe's finest shepherds. The tour of Australia began near the Purinese Mountains in Europe. It was here, in the border between France and Spain, where indigenous people, known as natives, built their centuries-old reputation as world-class shepherds. His dog of choice was called the Pyrenean Shepherd, the ancestor of our modern Australians.
In the early 1800s, the Anglo Amigris of Australia began a push into the vast interior of the continent in search of rich pastures for cattle races. Eventually, with their loyal shepherd dogs in tow, several basses sailed east, to try their luck on the Virgin Australian continent, a wide open paradise for sheep shepherds.
During his long stay in Australia, the Basque Shepherd refined his dogs with prudent crosses for British imports to Australia, the Colise and the Border Colleges. Having built their flocks, fearless bassists left Australia for lush green pastures — literally and left for California.
California rankers praised Besik's shepherd dogs and believed them to be an Australian breed - thus the misleading name Australian Shepherd. Australian, more sophisticated and proven in the US, has been an iconic part of cowboy culture. Many are still happily flocking to the American West, earning others their feed as rodeo artists, and still others such versatile breed work as therapy dogs, drug detectors, service dogs, and search-and-find. Rescue as dogs. The Australian Shepherd entered the AKC Herring Group in 1993.
The Australian Shepherd should perform well on high quality dog food, whether it is commercially manufactured or prepared with the supervision and approval of your vet. Any diet should be appropriate for the age of the dog (puppy, adult or senior). Some dogs are at risk of being overweight, so watch your dog's calorie consumption and weight level. Treatment training can be an important aid, but giving too much can lead to obesity. Know which human foods are safe for dogs, and which are not. If you have any concerns about your dog's weight or diet, check with your vet. Clean, fresh water must be available at all times.
A high energy, athletic dog, the Australian needs a lot of exercise on a daily basis. At a minimum, he should have a large, fenced-in yard to run for at least an hour or two daily. Australians have a close relationship with their owners and prefer to stay with them for a long time — or, better yet, grow. Once an Australian leaves the puppy behind, and his skeletal system fully formed, he can make a fantastic running mate. The best course, however, is to give Australians a job, whether it be animal husbandry, grazing children, or dog events such as obedience, cowboy or agility testing, or dock diving.
Australians are generally healthy dogs, and a responsible breeder will test the breeding stock for some concerns of health concerns such as hip dysplasia, epilepsy, cataracts and cancer. An Australian's ears should be regularly checked and their teeth brushed regularly to remove foreign matter and avoid wax buildup.
Recommended health tests from the National Breed Club: